Ashes 2023: They need and have to play Warner – Nasser Hussain feels Australia will have to make tricky selection decisions

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain wants Australia to back under-fire David Warner for the fourth Ashes Test. Hussain questioned if the visitors decide to play both Cameron Green and in-form Mitchell Marsh in the final XI, then who will open the innings with Usman Khawaja.

David Warner could only return with scores of 1 and 4 in the third Test match and England veteran pacer Stuart Broad continued his domination against the Australian opener, dismissing him for the 17th time in Test cricket in the second innings.

Warner has amassed 141 runs in three Test matches at an average of 23.50 in the ongoing Ashes against England. Broad has consistently troubled him from the around-the-wicket angle and it has been difficult going for the veteran left-hander.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain said: “It’s the decision on David Warner. It is a really tricky thing. I think if they’d won here [third Test at Headingley], and they had won the Ashes, it would have been a time to move on from David Warner, but now it’s a live game, I think they need and have to play Warner. My point being you could play Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh and leave Warner out, but then who opens?”

Mitchell Marsh has opened in limited-overs format but Hussain feels opening the innings in Test matches is a different ball game altogether.

“You might have to move Labuschagne, or even Marsh opens in white ball cricket at times, so he could do it. But it’s a different challenge. That’s a specialist role: opening in Test match cricket. They’ll have to think long and hard about who opens the batting at Old Trafford.”

On the other hand, former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who is also part of the commentary panel for the Ashes, concurred with Nasser Hussain’s opinion.

“I think now they’ll have to play Warner,” he said. “I’m not sure whether changing that is going to be the answer, but it will be up for discussion, if they have an opener ready. There’s a lot of additions to be made, but that opening spot is critical for Australia.”

“To balance the side out, are they going to leave Mitchell Marsh out? They need partnerships there. They need a 40, 50, 60 run partnership there to let the other batters go and have a bit of a breather. I think Warner might not get another opportunity, but they will discuss that,” he added.

The fourth Ashes Test will be played at Old Trafford from 19th July onwards.